Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017
220. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of dormant account moneys available to be disbursed to each Department; if a charity (details supplied) can be considered for funding under the dormant accounts fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17172/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dormant Accounts Act 2001, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Acts 2005-2012, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings. The Acts provide for the disbursement of funds for the purposes of programmes or projects to assist:
- the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged;
- the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged; or
- persons with a disability.
My Department's role is to prepare a Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursement Scheme every three years, which sets out the objectives to be achieved by making disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund and the strategies for achieving those objectives. My Department also co-ordinates the preparation of annual Action Plans in accordance with the three-year Disbursement Scheme, which contain the details of specific programmes and projects for delivery across Government Departments.
My Department is currently finalising a new Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursement Scheme, following a detailed consultation process across Government Departments. This Scheme will cover the period 2017-2019 and will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval shortly.
Following Government approval of the Disbursement Scheme, an Action Plan for 2017 will be drawn up in consultation with relevant Government Departments. It will be a matter for the Departments in question to propose specific schemes or programmes for inclusion in the 2017 Action Plan and to invite applications under their own schemes. Under the Dormant Accounts Fund legislation, relevant Ministers are required to prepare a list of applications which they recommend should receive a disbursement under their schemes, and submit this list to me for approval.
